I'm sorry about the mice! Perhaps you need a cat:)I was thinking, Gina, that it would be very nice if you did a post on bulbs to plant at this time of year (I know, it's already a little too late in many parts of the world). I've been trying to find different bulbs around here, but they only carry tulips and hyacinths!

Dear Francesca, We have a cat. Stanley is a very good mouser and also takes care of a few other vermins. Living in a place with open fields all around we just have to let nature take its course at times.

We plant bulbs in late October in our area. Except for paperwhites which I plant in pots for indoor enjoyment.

I don't know how cold it gets in your area. Most bulbs need a 6-week pre-cooling period where the winters are mild. Have you checked bulb catalogs for Italy. What about Holland? In our area most of our garden centers and even grocery stores carry a good assortment of Spring bulbs in the Fall. By the way, Rodents love tulip bulbs. They don't like daffodils because they are poisonous.

I am sure the mice knew what a delicacy they were eating when they gnawed the cymbidium roots! How kind of you and Stanley to let them dine on them! Oh well....paperwhites do smell amazing, so pungent! I love them!